Chapter 1483: Chapter 468: A Chance to Turn the Tables and Brutal Oppression, Frost Ash Association Branch, The Uprising Begins_4
Finally, aside from these three requirements, to ensure the growth and maturation of rice, it is essential to use fertilizer made from composted beast bone powder as nutrients throughout the process.
These four requirements alone determine that the regions suitable for growing rice are exceedingly rare.
Indeed, this is the case; the entire Chen Cang has only three areas where rice can be planted, and the Lu River Valley is one of them, albeit the smallest.
The key is that rice not only has demanding growth conditions, but harvesting it is also extraordinarily difficult.
Due to the long-term use of coal for heating, the rice stems and roots are continuously baked, releasing a deadly high-temperature toxin known as Green Fire Poison, named by Chen Cang because it appears green and looks like flames from close up.
The Green Fire Poison can be resisted by Cold Resistance Level for at most three hours, and Earth-digging Realm for two hours is the limit; exceeding the time limit results in the internal organs combusting and is almost incurable, leading to inevitable death.
However, after years of planting, Chen Cang has gleaned some experience. The Green Fire Poison is a high-temperature toxin, and its toxicity weakens with lower temperatures. During the day, the temperature in the Ice Abyss is much lower than at night, so Cold Resistance Level slaves are sent in for two hours during the day, where they are generally unaffected by the toxin;
The problem is that apart from the Green Fire Poison, there is another major obstacle called the Black Firefly.
This Black Firefly is a small, pitch-black insect the size of a thumb, sharp at the head and thick at the tail. It is not a Cold Beast but should be considered a companion organism of the rice. They usually randomly hide in mature rice stalks, and once disturbed, they shoot out like poisonous arrows, with an impact strength between 2 and 8 Manes. Due to their small size and speed, they can penetrate even Thousand Forged Iron Armor, catching ordinary Cold Resistance Level slaves off-guard, resulting in an annual death rate of two percent during the rice harvest, primarily caused by these Black Fireflies.
Considering these two difficulties, coupled with the low yield per rice plant, Cold Resistance Level slaves could only harvest four to five plants at most, approximately one pound, within two hours during the daytime in previous years, even maintaining a 20% mortality rate.
The harvest period for rice typically lasts only around 80 days. Taking last year as an example, Qingwu Village had a total of 210 Cold Resistance Level slaves who collectively handed in over 16,300 pounds of rice, averaging less than one pound per person per day, as they were already pushing their limits.
Someone just calculated that Qingwu Village currently has only 198 Cold Resistance Level slaves. According to this year’s target set by the Subordinate Bureau, 19,500 pounds must be collected, with each person accounting for 100 pounds, meaning at least 1.25 pounds per day per person, which equates to more than six plants.
This is the baseline number, and the harvest period might be shortened, with the 20% annual mortality rate unchanged. If personnel decreases, the remaining people will have even more to bear.
Therefore, relying solely on Cold Resistance Level slaves cannot meet this target!
But Zhang Long is well aware that the plan he discussed with fifteen other village Subordinate Department Chiefs is indeed somewhat excessive.
During the first two hours of the night, although the temperature is relatively lower, the Green Fire Poison remains potent. No one knows how long the Earth-digging Realm Limit can withstand it;
Moreover, facing the Black Firefly, even Cold Resistance Level slaves risk losing their lives, not to mention the Earth-digging Realm Limit slaves, who are doomed if they encounter them.
The method they proposed, bluntly speaking, involves using the lives of Earth-digging Realm Limit slaves to exchange for rice.
But the problem is, they couldn’t think of any other solutions besides this.
Since the County City has given an order, it must be obeyed no matter what, even if lives have to be sacrificed to meet this year’s rice target.
"You have your difficulties. I, as the Manager, have mine too. Since the order from above has been issued, it must be executed. I just returned from the rice fields, and this year’s rice is growing well. The day after tomorrow, we can go in and harvest. Make sure everyone from the eight areas is prepared, not only the Cold Resistance Level slaves but all Earth-digging Realm Limit slaves in the village as well. If we complete the target, I promise that none of you will be shortchanged..."
At this, Zhang Long paused slightly.
Though Qingwu Village is a Slave Village, its total population reaches 80,000. The village is divided into eight areas, each with about 10,000 people, and these eight middle-aged men before him are the Vice Managers responsible for their respective areas.
In Chen Cang, those who can serve as Subordinate Department Chiefs in a Slave Village are mostly mid to low-ranking officers from the County or Town Guard Army, some retired due to injury or age, others who simply didn’t want to stay in the military, securing the position with connections and money.
Because they were former comrades-in-arms, their relationships were generally good.
Zhang Long knows well that these people won’t act without benefits. If you want someone to do something, you have to prepare some incentives for them.
So, after a brief pause, he continued, "The Subordinate Bureau in the County City said that completing this year’s target will earn a 300,000 silver reward. If our village manages to complete it, I won’t keep all the 300,000 silver to myself. Each of you eight will receive 30,000 silver. Additionally, if there are any other rewards, I will share them with all of you. How about that?"
Hearing these words, the expressions of the eight people below immediately showed interest.
"Rest assured, Manager, I will definitely make the necessary preparations."
"There are so many Earth-digging Realm Limit slaves in the village; it’s their turn to put in some effort. After all, harvesting rice is a task that benefits the Feudal Town, one that they can’t merely wish for."
"Slave Village is essentially private property of the Subordinate Bureau; they have to do whatever they are told, otherwise wouldn’t they have been raised in vain?"
"Exactly, exactly. I will start counting the people in the area right away, ensuring that the day after tomorrow, all Earth-digging Realm Limit slaves are brought out to the fields to harvest the rice."
